Non-destructive testing

Experience the power of our advanced cameras, delivering unmatched sensitivity, spatial resolution, and contrast. Our single-photon counting Cameras quickly uncover hidden details in various materials, from light composites to thick welded parts. The technology suppresses scattered radiation, capturing quality images in record time. The capabilities of our photon-counting X-ray imaging unveil internal material structures and spot defects like porosity, fiber orientation, micro-cracks, and delaminations with unparalleled precision. Elevate your NDT with our industry-leading solutions, setting new standards in defect detection.

X-RAY IMAGING WITH EXTREME DYNAMIC RANGE

Explore unprecedented X-Ray imaging quality and pictures that literally cannot be overexposed.

ADVACAM’s novel X-ray imaging technology is beneficial for inspecting light materials. As shown in the images, the high dynamic range helps detect even a rose stem through a glass vase, a piece of cloth tissue left inside a composite plane wing, or PVC adhesive tape inside a pipe made of carbon fiber. The ability to detect objects with low attenuation inside ones with high attenuation is ideal for foreign object detection.

Standard radiographic X-ray imaging provides a black-and-white image of the inspected sample. Defects, impurities, or cracks may be observed only if the image’s resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is appropriate. Advacam’s spectral X-ray imaging-based photon counting detectors provide additional material information about the samples with superior contrast and high spatial resolution, ideal for non-destructive testing (NDT).

Besides that: This approach enables us to see several different materials within one image. A single image of an ancient puppet reveals wood, metal nails, a silk skirt, human hair, and puppet strings, a feat impossible with standard X-ray technology.

The size of the pixels of our cameras is 55 µm; therefore, the native resolution of our devices is 55 µm. However, it can be dramatically improved thanks to ADVACAM’s sophisticated data analysis and post-processing. It allows for achieving even sub-pixel resolution up to 9 µm in X-ray images. This resolution and exceptional sensitivity of CdTe sensors make our cameras an unbeatable X-ray imaging device.

Advacam Extreme dynamic range - rose in glass. X-rays of a dry rose taken with ADVACAM’s WidePIX detectors. A very soft rose stem is visible through a glass vase. The rose cannot be seen, as standard X-rays lack the necessary dynamic range.

X-rays of a dry rose taken with ADVACAM’s WidePIX detectors. A very soft rose stem is visible through a glass vase.

Scans of a composite honeycomb, propeller or interior of a wing root. In the red circle, there is clearly visible a foreign object: A cloth left inside the composite wing. The images were taken by a WidePIX camera featured by the robotic system of our partner company Radalytica.

Scans of a composite honeycomb, propeller, or interior of a wing root. In the red circle, a foreign object is clearly visible: A cloth left inside the composite wing.

The ultra-high dynamic range of ADVACAM’s WidePIX detectors can be seen clearly in X-rays of a marionette created by French artist Edgar Degas known as “the Dancer.” A single image reveals wood, metal nails, the silk skirt, human hair and puppet strings. It is impossible with standard X-ray technology to image objects together of such varying materials, which range from completely opaque to completely transparent.

A single image reveals wood, metal nails, the silk skirt, human hair and puppet strings. With standard X-ray technology, it is impossible to image objects together of such varying materials, which range from completely opaque to completely transparent.

A test conducted with an ISO 19232 HR4 Duplex Image Quality Identifier demonstrates the capability of the AdvaPIX camera to attain deep subpixel resolution through advanced post-processing techniques. In the image, the smallest distance between two wires was 0.023 mm. The enhanced resolution was achieved at 9 µm, significantly improving over the native 55 µm.

ADVACAM Non-destructive testing: METAL WELD INSPECTION: A high-resolution image of legendary BAM-5 weld done by WidePIX 1x5 CdTe camera (1280 x 256 pixels, 55µm pixel pitch) compared to images of the same sample taken with other standard and mostly used alternative technologies. The camera was placed just behind the sample and ordinary X-ray tube (160 kVp, 0,4 mm focal spot) in a distance of 50 cm. The exposure time was 50 seconds. These hand-welded 8mm thick steel plates with all types of welding flaws became standard in the field of non-destructive testing of steel welds. The superior quality is obvious.

A high-resolution image of legendary BAM-5 weld compared to images of the same sample taken with other standard technologies.

ADVACAM: A radiographic image of the welded pipe: The welding misalignment and the three bubbles are clearly visible. The AdvaPIX CdTe camera took the image. The material thickness can be measured with minimal precision of 20 µm (rms) in the center of the pipe and 50 µm (rms) near its periphery. The bubbles with a diameter of about 100 µm can be identified with high confidence and other structural features such as cracks or cavities.

A radiographic image of welded joint of two pipes: The welding misalignment and the three bubbles are clearly visible.

METAL WELD INSPECTION

Advanced single-photon detectors enable quick and high-resolution inspection of welded vessels, stainless pipes, and other materials.

Precise welding requires highly sensitive and high-resolution inspection methods. Our detectors exhibit excellent properties in this field. For example, we present small details of the BAM-5 weld sample inspected with our detector with a resolution of 55 microns. The signal-to-noise ratio measured (SNRm) achieved was 148 in the case of an 8.3 mm thick BAM-5 sample. Even thick structures of modern superalloys can be inspected in a fraction of the time required by standard inspection techniques.

The detectors achieve Class B image quality according to standard ISO 17636-2. Therefore, they are a perfect choice for cutting-edge digital radiography NDT systems. The detectors can be either operated in frame mode or time-delayed-integration mode, producing “endless” images as the detector moves along or around the object.

Our Cameras can also quickly and accurately evaluate the quality of welded steel pipes, even when made from heavy and highly absorbing materials like stainless steel. Unlike traditional X-ray imagers, Advacam detectors are fully digital with an energy discriminator and counter in each pixel. That allows virtually noiseless counting of all ionizing particles at a much shorter exposure time.

LIGHT COMPOSITE INSPECTION

The single-photon X-ray imaging technology significantly enhances NDT capabilities for composite materials. It provides a powerful tool for industry applications to ensure the quality and reliability of critical components.

Modern industry requires tough, light, and reliable materials. That makes detecting defects, impurities, or cracks extremely important. However, traditional X-ray imaging systems for Non-destructive testing (NDT) are insufficient for modern materials like composites.

The next-generation photon-counting detectors, with “clever pixels” that process each detected x-ray photon, improve image quality, sensitivity, and material recognition in inspected samples. This has significant advantages for imaging since the photon-counting detectors do not suffer from the electronic noise that deteriorates the image quality in commonly available devices. Moreover, the pixels can also measure the wavelength of x-ray photons, opening new possibilities for „color radiography“ and recognizing different material types in inspected samples.

ADVACAM Non-destructive testing: LIGHT COMPOSITE INSPECTION. An X-ray image of a honeycomb structure clearly shows porosity in the epoxide glue attaching the skin to the aluminium honeycomb. The image was done by Advacam’s WidePIX 2x5 photon counting detector.

An X-ray image of a honeycomb structure clearly shows porosity in the epoxide glue attaching the skin to the Aluminium honeycomb.

ADVACAM Non-destructive testing: UNCOVER COMPOSITE DELAMINATION. This picture shows aluminum core delaminations in a honeycomb composite part consisting of the metallic core and a CFRP skin. Sharper edges signal the absence of glue. Some bubbles in epoxy and Carbon fiber bunches are visible as well.

An aluminum core delaminations in a honeycomb composite part consisting of the metallic core and a CFRP skin.

A visualization of a crosssection of bent CFRP sample showing Delaminations between layers.

UNCOVER COMPOSITE DELAMINATION

Advacam produces novel photon-counting x-ray imaging detectors ideal for inspecting composites, such as carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP). These detectors capitalize on their sensitivity to lower X-ray energies, which provide the best contrast in composites and reveal the most information about the internal structure.

Light materials, like carbon fibers and epoxies, are quickly revealed in greater detail. Defects like Core delaminations or Layer Delaminations, Porosity, Foreign objects, and Micro-cracks are detectable with 55µm or better resolution.

Even a hard-to-detect defect, such as delaminations and kissing bonds, can be revealed using our detectors combined with the phase-contrast imaging method.

The sizes of X-ray cameras suitable for plastics and composite material inspection range from 14×14 mm up to 140×140 mm. Larger composite objects can be scanned with detector rows. These rows are combined out of blocks of 14×70 mm and can have length chosen depending on the application.

INSPECT COMPOSITE FIBER ORIENTATION

Inspect composite fiber orientation using low-energy X-rays, high sensitivity, and dynamic range in photon counting detectors for aerospace industry NDT.

The composite NDT takes advantage of the detector sensitivity to low X-ray energies that provide the best contrast in composites and carry the most information about the internal structure. Therefore, light materials such as carbon fibers, epoxies, etc., are quickly revealed in great detail. Defects such as porosity, foreign objects, and micro-cracks are easily detected with a resolution of 55 µm or better. Even challenging defects such as deep laminate wrinkles, kissing bonds, and delaminations can be found thanks to the excellent sensitivity of novel devices. Combining the sensitivity to low X-ray energy photons with the very high dynamic range of photon counting detectors creates a powerful tool for NDT in the airspace industry and elsewhere.

Robotic systems developed by Radalytica further expand the capabilities of photon-counting detectors. Contrary to the classical X-ray imaging setups, the automated system gives nearly absolute viewing angle flexibility. Therefore, these robots allow X-raying to localize defects from different perspectives better.

ADVACAM Non-destructive testing: INSPECT COMPOSITE FIBER ORIENTATION. The orientation of fibers in a composite material is clearly visualized at a resolution of 55 µm. In the upper image, you can see light aircraft composite part. It shows fiber bunches' alignment, distribution, and location in high resolution. Below is a picture of a sports car composite door where individual fibers can be detected.

The orientation of fibers in a composite material is clearly visualized at a resolution of 55 µm.

ADVACAM Non-destructive testing: NSPECT COMPOSITE FIBER ORIENTATION. Detection of fiber undulations. Geometrical magnification with a suitable X-ray tube allows resolutions as high as a few micrometers to detect individual fibers.

Detection of fiber undulations. Geometrical magnification with a suitable X-ray tube allows resolutions as high as a few micrometers to detect individual fibers.

An example of the spectral X-ray imaging is the differentiation of materials in electronics. A laptop was scanned using the Widepix MPX3 CdTe detector on the robotic scanner. The resulting scan has 7852×9880 pixels, i.e., 77.6M pixels. Both the grayscale and “color” X-ray images are shown.

SPECTRAL IMAGING FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING

Color X-ray imaging is now achievable. With our spectral detectors, we can measure the wavelength of each X-ray photon and determine the material being scanned. This technology revolutionizes non-destructive testing in electronics and various other complex devices, eliminating the need for disassembly.

Conventional X-ray images are grayscale, representing only variations in the density and thickness of materials. A thin layer of high-density, heavy material may appear at the same gray level as a thick layer of lightweight material, causing some features of samples to remain undetected. In contrast, energy-sensitive (spectral) X-ray imaging provides information on the elemental composition of the inspected object.

For example, this technique can be employed in non-destructive testing of electronics, where specific colors can distinguish different materials.

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